Fireplace screen construction



June 21, 1960 F. J. MEYER FIREPLACE SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Filed May 27, 1957 will!!! United States Patent FIREPLACE SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Fred I. Meyer, Berkeley, Calif., assigner to Fred Meyer of California, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., aV corporaltion of California Filed May 27, 1957, Ser. No. 661,728

s Claims. (c1. 16o-3s) This invention relates to a new and useful construction in fireplace screens and particularly contemplates a simple and effective means for securing the screen within a fireplace. p

A principal object of the inst-ant invention is to provide a fireplace screen of adjustable dimension whereby the screen may be fitted to fireplaces of varying dimension.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lireplace screen with manually operable means for securing the screen effectively within the fireplace to eliminate the need for special fittings or special tools to effect installation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide va fireplace screen mounting bracket having an extendable mounting rod which can be secured between the side walls of a fireplace upon extending the rod and a screen mounting cornice slidably attached to the rod and restrained against rotary movement about the rod by fireplace engaging support members disposed on the ends of the rod.

A feature of the invention is that the screen mounting cornice may be attached between the two walls of the replace so that the mounting means is concealed by the cornice.

A further object of the invention is to provide support members swivelled to the end of the rods so that the support members can be positioned in parallel relation to the side walls of -a fireplace.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a traverse chain controlling the irescreen of simplified structure so that wheels or pulleys can be eliminated.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and an understanding of the `accompanying drawings.

`In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention installed in a repl-ace;

Fig. 2 s a broken top plan view of the invention shown partially in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the invention to show in detail a support member for engagement with a fireplace wall and the mounting means for a fireplace supporting cornice;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the invention omitting the extendable rod;

Fig; 5 is 'an enlarged elevation disclosing chain means within the lirescreen' supporting cornice to actuate the screen; and

Fig. 6 is a view shown partially in section 'and taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Essentially the invention comprises a cornice Af `and firescreen panels B carried'by the cornice. The cornice is mounted to the fireplace by channels C slidably supported by supporting members D mounted on an extendable rod or turnbuckle E. Cornice A conceals and supports the means supporting panels B and is secured to channels C which engage or embrace supporting members D, the latter being connected by extendable rod E. As appears in Figs. 1 and 2 extendable rod E has been ,s lCC extended to lodge supporting members D against in terior opposed walls F and G of a fireplace thereby securing the invention in position.

Many of the parts or members of the preferred ernbodiment appear in pairs. To facilitate description corresponding parts will be designated with the same num ber, the part appearing on the right hand side being suflixed with the letter a.

Cornice A is open at its bottom and includes a front face 12, a rearwardly extending flange 13| running the length of the cornice along its top and ends 14 and 14a extending rearwardly a distance to correspond with flange 13. It will be understood cornice A may be formed of a decorative material such as brass or copper to enhance the appe-arance of the unit.

`Channels C abut the inner face 12 of cornice A adjacent the llatters ends and extend rearwardly and normally therefrom. Each channel includes a web 17 and flanges 18, each channel being positioned with flanges 18 and 18EL extending outwardly and disposcd'away from each other.l A pair of angle irons 16 secured as by welding each at the abutting juncture of a web v17 with the inner face 12 of cornice A secure the channels and cornice in the aforementioned position.

Webs 17 are substantially centrally apertured as indicated at 19, each to receive normally and slidably a threaded rod 20. Threaded rods 20 are oppositely threaded and communicate at theirl interior or meeting ends with right and lleft screw link or sleeve 22, the three parts together, that is, threaded rods 20 and 20' and sleeve 22, forming a standard turnbuckle.

A pair of rectangular, box-like, supporting members 23 are open on their exterior or disposed sides and provided `with serrations 24 at their open corners. Each supporting member is swiveled to an outer or disposed end of a threaded rod 20 by a pin 26 vertically secured as by welding to the face of the supporting member 23, each pin 26` passing movably through a vertical aperture 27 adjacent the outer end of rod 20. The inner or opposed faces of supporting members 23 may be apertured as at 28 to receive the outer end of rod 20.

Each supporting member 23 is vertically dimensioned to fit movably but relatively snugly between anges 18 of channel C upon suitable adjustment of turnbuckle E. It will thus be observed that each supporting member 23 is secured to an end of threaded rod 20 for horizontal swivel `movement and limited vertical movement within the confine of flanges 18 of channels C. i

The pair of lirescreen panels B formed of horizontally collapsible metal mesh are suspended from the open bottom of cornice A by a plurality of rings 29 embracing a pair of horizontally spaced rods 30.

Rods 30 are each secured at their outer endsto cha-nnel C -and at their inner ends in horizontally overlapping position by legs 32 depending from flange 13 of cornice A.

Panels B are controlled for closed or retracted position by chain 33. As particularly appears in Fig. 5, the leg of angle iron 169v abutting cornice A is deformed at two points 34 and 36 to form depressions or recessed guides to receive chain 33.

The leg of angle iron 16 abutting cornice A is pro` vided on its rearwardly facing surface with a disc 37 having a grooved periphery 38 to receive for slidable movement chain 33. Disc 37 may be secured to angle iron 16l as by straps 39 and 40 welded to angle iron 16E.

Chain 33 passes semi-circularly around disc 37, one end or segment of chain 33 passing slidably through recess 34 in angle iron 16a, and the other segment through recess 36. Each segment of chain 33 engages panels,B and both segments are prevented from sagging or drooping below the concealing face 12 of cornice A by centrally positioned U-shaped guides 42.

The described'unit may be installed in the fireplace opening by positioning cornice A adjacent the top or upper surface 43 of the fireplace opening. Within individual tastes, cornice A may protrude or be recessed from the front or outer surface of rthe fireplace, or may be -ush therewith.

Having thus positioned the unit, sleeve 22 of" turnbuckle'E is manually rotated causing threaded rodsv 2.0 to'move outwardly relative to each other until attachedY supporting members 23 are each juxtaposed and lodged securely "against interiorY or opposed walls F and G of the lireplace opening. An additional turn on sleeve 22 as with a pipe wrench` firmly anchors the unit in position.

As a Vresult of `the swivel movement permitted by the joinder of supporting members 23 with the ends of threaded rods 20, serrations 24 at all corners of supporting members 23 have contact and are lodged securely against an abutting wall. As particularly noted in Fig. 2, fireplace wall G abutting supporting member 23ab is Vnot perpendicular to the front of the iireplace nor parallel to the adjacentchannel. Notwithstanding swivel movement permitted by the joinder of supporting member 23a with threaded rod 20a, permits alignment of supporting member 23@ with the abutting wall G, thereby causing serral tions at all corners of supporting member 23a to contact and lodge against the Vabutting wall G, rmly anchoring supporting member 23a against pivotal movement around serrations 44 at the rear of the member as would have occurred in the absence of the swivel juncture.

Flanges 18 ef channels C overlapping and underlapping snpp'ort'ingm'embers 23 prevent or brake downward rotational movement of cornice A, channels C, and other parts around threaded rods '20 vwhich otherwise would occur.

Having installed theunit, lirescreen panels B may be drawn together or retracted by operation of chain 33 in awellJknown manner.

It'will be understood that cornice A and the distance between the outer or exterior edges of channels C should be substantially the same as the width o f the fireplace epening for which the unit is designed. A s a result of the `expandable feature of the invention resulting from turnbuckle E permits the dimension of said elements yto be less than the width of the fireplace opening, but this difference should not exceed approximately'one and onehalf times the depth of channels C, inasmuch as aV greater discrepancy would impair the overlapping and underlapping engagement of 4flanges 1 8 of channels C with sup porting members`23, thereby impairing or losing the anti: pivotal 'action of said elements when engaging each other.

' The unit thus comprises a replacescreenandmounting which may easily Vand effectively be installed within a replace opening by anon-skilled person and without the necessity of a number of tools. 'The foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding. 'It will be understood, however, that certain changes and modifications may be practiced without departing from the spirit ofthe invention 'and the scope of the appended claims. Whatis claimed is;

l. In a device for supporting a fireplace screen, means for providing adjustment lto accommodate standard siz'e sereens to vertically extending fireplace side walls yof various spacings, said means comprising a horizontally extending cornice for location adjacent to the fireplace front and the oppositeends of which are provided with rearwardly @shading-,channel members Cmics Suppen*- ing members positioned by the channel members, and extendable rod means having free ends bearing against the supporting members and adjustable to force said Supporting members into engagement with said fireplace side walls.

2. In a device for supporting a fireplace screen as claimed in claim l, wherein the webs of the channel members, ,are apertures and. adapted vto receive the free ends of the 4rod means.

3. 'In -aV device `for supporting a {ireplace screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel members are provided with open faces extending toward said fireplace side 4walls.` n

4. In a device for supporting a ireplace screen as claimed in claim 3, wherein therod means having free ends bearing against the supporting members are pivotally Carried therebyl Syln a device for supporting aAiireplace screen, means for providing adjustment to accommodate Astandard size' screens to vertically extending fireplace walls of various widths, said means comprising a horizontally extending cornice the opposite ends ot which are provided with channel memberspearch said channel member having a rearwardly extending portion, the open faces of said channel members extending toward said replace walls,A and extendable rod carried by and passing through said channel members, and cornice supporting members pivotally carried at the free ends of said rod and `confined Within the channel members carried by the cornice.

6;. In a device for supporting a iireplace screen, means f or providing adjustment to accommodate standard type screen to vvertically extending fireplace Walls of various widths,` said means comprising a horizontally extending cornice the opposite ends of which are provided with rearwardly extending channel members the open faces oi said channel members extending toward said fireplace walls, an extendable rod carried by and passing through said channel members', and cornice supporting members pivotally carried at the free ends of said rod said cornice supporting members movable within the channel members carried by the cornice.

7 In a device for supporting a replace screen, means fQl Pf-OYQDS adjustment, t0 accommodate standard size screens to vertically extendingreplace walls of` various widths, said means comprising a horizontally extending cornice .the opposite ends of which are provided with.V rearwardly extending channel members theopen faces of said channel members extending toward said fireplace walls, an, extendable rod carried by and passing through Sadhatmilmembers and cornice Supporting members carried at the .tree ends of said rod and liar/ing portions thff collld Within the channelmembersv carried by the cornice.

8. In a devies for supporting a replace screen as claimedin claim 7 whereinthe cornice, supporting memf hers arepivotally carried by the free ends of said rod.

References Cited in the le of this patenti UNITED STATES PATENTS 

